Thousands of homes remain without electricity and rail services are still disrupted following the aftermath of Storm Floris, which swept through Scotland with winds of up to 90mph.
Scottish and Southern Electricity Networks (SSEN) reported that, as of 08:00, power had yet to be restored to 22,000 properties, despite engineers having already reconnected around 50,000 homes. The storm, described by SSEN as "the most damaging summer storm in recent memory", caused widespread outages across the Highlands, Moray, and Aberdeenshire.
Network Rail teams have been working non-stop to clear debris from train lines, responding to 119 incidents on Monday alone. Fallen trees and debris brought the rail network to a standstill, with services still disrupted as inspections and repairs continue.
The storm’s impact wasn't limited to rail. Flights and ferry services were suspended across Scotland, with Cirium data indicating at least 68 departure flights were cancelled on Monday. Road travel was hazardous, with fallen trees blocking major routes, including the A82 at Onich near Fort William. High winds also forced closures of major road bridges to high-sided vehicles, and some vehicles were blown over in areas like Glasgow and Skye.
SSEN deployed additional crews and helicopters early Tuesday morning to assess damage from the air. “We’ll be working as quickly and safely as possible to restore power,” an SSEN spokesperson said, adding that free hot meals and drinks are being provided in affected communities, including Dingwall, Huntly, Wick, Lairg, and Kyle of Lochalsh.
The Scottish government held an emergency meeting on Monday night to address the "significant disruption" caused by the storm. Justice Secretary Angela Constance urged the public to avoid unnecessary travel until conditions improve, warning that while the weather is set to ease, the recovery will take time.
Network Rail Scotland reported 75 tree-related incidents, including overhead line damage near King's Park (Glasgow), Cornton (Stirling), and Bishopton (Paisley). Inspections will continue into Tuesday, supported by helicopters to assist ground crews. Ross Moran, Network Rail Scotland’s route director, acknowledged the extensive damage and thanked passengers for their patience.
Cultural and public events also faced cancellations. Visitors were turned away from Edinburgh Castle after it closed for safety reasons, and the Edinburgh Fringe Festival announced about 110 show cancellations, mostly in temporary venues. In Glasgow, filming for the upcoming "Spider-Man: Brand New Day" was suspended. The SQA also warned that storm-related disruptions could delay exam results letters to pupils in Scotland’s island communities.
An amber weather warning issued by the Met Office, spanning from the Central Belt to the Highlands, expired at 23:00 on Monday. However, forecasters cautioned that the risk of falling trees is heightened in summer storms due to trees being in full leaf.
While Tuesday is expected to bring calmer weather as Storm Floris drifts towards Scandinavia, another bout of wet and windy conditions is predicted to arrive in north-western parts of the UK by late Wednesday into Thursday. Photo by Jonathan Groß, Wikimedia commons.